Coming off a knee injury, Chandler McDaniel is looking to get significant playing time when the Philippine women’s national football team debuts in the 2022 Asian Games in China this September.

The 25-year-old forward was part of the Alen Stajcic-named Filipinas pool in the Women’s World Cup.

McDaniel suffered an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear in her right knee in February 2022 during the Philippines’ semifinal loss against South Korea in the AFC Women's Asian Cup and was out for about seven months before rejoining the team’s US camp later on in September. 

With the 46th-ranked Philippines landing in Group E at the Asiad next month, McDaniel couldn't help but recall the downer after being drawn with South Korea (No. 17) along with Myanmar (No. 50) and Hong Kong (No. 78) in the preliminary phase. 

“Playing South Korea will be a little flashback cause last time I played them I did hurt myself, but I’m very excited to get back on the field and start building up to more minutes, hopefully,” said McDaniel.

Before getting hurt, McDaniel was one of the Nationals’ key cogs that helped the build-up to their eventual World Cup qualification. 

In her international debut for the Philippines in the qualifiers, McDaniel slotted the late game-winner against Hong Kong, 2-1, to help the country book a slot in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

When the Nationals opened their campaign in the Asian Cup, it was McDaniel’s lone goal against Thailand, 1-0, that ended their 12-game match losing skid.

The Philippines went on to advance to the World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Chinese Taipei in the tournament, with McDaniel missing out on the historic moment. 

As she steadily regained her regular spot in the team, McDaniel was grateful to be able to build on the earned opportunity of being part of the World Cup group. 

“Individually, I definitely think my journey has been a little different than everyone else just because I’ve been away from the team for so long. So being able to come back strong and fight, and win a spot in the 23 roster was definitely my goal from the beginning. So just to be able to do that alone was incredible and stepping on to the field for that first time was truly a dream come true like it’s something you dream about when you’re little, so being able to fulfill it is unreal and words don’t really describe it," she added. 

A week since Stajcic's exit, though, there hasn't been an update on who will be at the touchline when the Filipinas impress in the continental event.